Card-index file



March l0, 1931.

F. v. sHQTwELL CARD INDEX FILE Ec?. Z

Filed Nov. 2l, 1928 W/TNESSE wig? M@ ATTORNEY 'Patented Mar. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES FREDERIC VALPEY SHOTWELL, F DETBOI GRIFFITH-HOPE COMPANY, OF WEST A PATENT OFFICE T, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO LLIS, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WIS- Y CONSIN, AND1 ONE-HALF TO FRED M. SHOTWELL, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN CARD-INDEX FILE Application led November 21, 1928. Serial No. 320,868.

The invention relates to card index files.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive card index file, more particularly adapted for the filing of recipes for use in a kitchen, but also capable of other applications.

Another object of the invention is to provide a card index file including a container having a pencil-receiving rest formed thereon at its front wall.

A further object is to construct the container from sheet metal in a simple but effective manner and to form the pencil rest by means of an offset in its front wall.

A further object is to provide a card index file including a pivoted inclined cover, so constructed as to form a rest receiving a selected one of the recipe cards.

- A further object is to so construct the container that it may rest either on a horizontal surface or on a wall, and to so arrange the cover that it will be retained in open position when the container is mounted against a wall. f

A further object isto provide a set of index cards for the file arranged in groups the several cards in each group having laterally offset index tabs and the cards in each successive group being higher than those in the preceding group to secure visibility of the tabs thereon.

A further object is to construct the index cards in the form of folders which can be selectively withdrawn to afford convenient ac" cess to the group of cards contained therein.

A` further object of the invention is to perfect details of construction generally.

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional elevation of a card index file embodying the invention, as it appears when mounted on a wall and with its cover in open position some of the index folders being omitted;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the card index file taken near the front wall thereof andshowing the cover in its open position F ig. 8 is an end elevation of the card index iile with its cover in closed position and forming a rest for a recipe card, and a pencil being supported along the front wall of the iile, and

F ig. 4 is a front elevation of the card index le as it appears when supporting a pencil and a selected exposed recipe card.

In these drawings, the numeral 10 designates a rectangular container of sheet-metal construction in which the front, bottom and back walls are formed of a single piece of sheet-metal 11 joined, as by welding, to marginally iianged sheet metal panels 12 forming opposite end walls, the flanges 12 of the end ypanels being disposed within the sheetmetal member 11. The bottom of the container is provided with embossments 13 upon which the container may rest on a'table surface or other horizontal surface, and the back wall is provided with keyhole-shaped slots 14 for receiving there-through screws 15 by means of which the container may be mounted against a supporting wall.

The front wall of the sheet-metal member 11 is bent at an intermediate portion to form a longitudinally-extending rearwardly-inclined shelf or ledge 16 adapted to support thereon a pencil 17 or other writing instrument. The upper edge of the rear wall of the member 11 is somewhat higher than the upper edge of the front wall, and the upper edge of each of the end wall panels 12 is inclined to extend between the upper edges of the front and back walls. The upper portion of the rear wall is curved forwardly to it about the correspondingly rounded upper edges of the end wall panels 12, and the upper edge of the rear wall is rolled to form a hinge 18 with similarly rolled portions of a sheet-metal cover 19. The cover 19 is provided with depending flanges 20 at its ends, which enclose the upper edge portions of the end walls 12 when the cover is in closed position, as seen in F ig. 3. At its forward edge the cover 19 is provided with an upwardlyprojecting rolled bead 21, which not only serves as a handhold for lifting the cover, but also forms a ledge by means of which a card can be rested on the upper face f the inclined cover.

The container receives therein a group of folders 22 each holding therein agroup of recipe cards 23 and each folder having an index tab Y24 formed thereon at the yupper edge of its rear leaf. For clarity, some-vof the folders are omitted from Fig. 1.` Thel folders 22y arearranged in several' groups, the folders. in any one group being of the same height and the folders in the next' posterior group being of greater height. The dex tabs on the folders in any one group are offset laterally to obtain visibility of each tab, and the index tabs in the succeeding posterior group are also 'offset in the same manner but are arranged at a higher elevation to be visible above the tabs of thepreceding group. In this manner, every index tab is readily visible at a glance without requiring manipulation of the folders. It will be noted that the front leaves ofthe several folders are all of the same height, as are also the cards 23, and that the rear leaves of the folders are of variable' height. j

n Each folder 22 contains all recipe cards describing foods of a general class, such as bevkeragesr, breads, and cake, and a selected one (of the folders is lifted to theposition seen in Fig. 1, when the cover 19 is open, to permit the withdrawal therefrom of any selected recipe card. The folder is then dropped to its normal 'position within the container and the cover is dropped to the closed position, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4. The selected recipe card is then placed in inclined position on the cover, as seen inv Figs. 3 and 4, to be conveniently visible for frequent reference. In this position, the card is not likely to become'accidentally soiled or damaged. Y A Y The cover, when moved to its openposition, as seen in Fig. 1, remains in such position even when the container isY mounted against a supporting wall, since the center of gravity of the open cover is spaced rearwardly from the vertical plane ofthe hinge 18. l i What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A card index file comprising a card-receiving container including a sheet-metal front wall having an offset formed therealong at an intermediate portion to present a pencil-receiving ledge.

2. In a card index file, the combination of a card-receivingcontainer, and an inclined sheet-metal cover for said container sloping forwardly and downwardly and having an upwardly projecting flanged portion along its forward free edgeto form a card-receiving stop, whereby a card forming part of said file may be supportedy on said inclined cover when the latter is in closed position.

3. In a card index le, the combination of a card-receiving container, and an inclined sheet-metal cover for said container sloping forwardly and downwardly and having an upwardly-projecting handhold-formng bead along its forward free edge to provide a cardreceiving stop channel, whereby a card forming part of said le may be supported on said inclined cover when the latter isin closed position.'A u Y .Y

4. Ina vcard. index file, the combination of a plurality of upwardly opening card-receiving index folders arranged in a plurality of successive groups, the folders in any one group being of the same height and provided with index tabs arranged in offset relation, and the folders in thesucceeding groups being of greater height at their rear leaves and having their index tabs arranged ata different elevation to obtain visibility 'of all of said index tabs without n anipulation of said folders, and a pluralty of cards received in each folder, the cards in all the folders. being of the same height and 4having their upper edges below the level of the lowermost tabs.

5. A card index file comprising a rectanguiar 'sheet-metal card-receiving container having front, rear and end walls, said end walls having their upper edges sloping downwardly from rear to front, and a sheet-metal cover hingedly connected to the upper edge portions of said rear wall and sloping forwardly and downwardlyto the upper edge portions of said front wall, said cover having depending flanges at its side edges adapted to overlie the side walls of said container and the forward portions of said cover being rolled to form an upwardly projecting bead vconstituting a stop ledge for a cardL resting on the sloping cover. Y

6. In a card index file, aplurality of upwardly opening card-receiving index folders arranged in Vaplurality of successive groups, 'the folders in any one group being of the same height and provided with index taps on their rear leaves arranged in offset relation, and the folders in the succeeding posterior groups being of greater height at their rear leaves and having their index tabs ari' ranged at a higher elevation to Vobtain visibility ofgall of said index tabs without manipulation of said folders, the' front leaves of all of said folders being of the same height and having their upper'edges below the level vof the lowermost tabs.

In testimony whereof, I afx my signature. FREDERIC VALPEY SIIOTWELL. 

